Craig Nicholls has warned his players that they must be able to kill games off, if they are going to challenge for the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division title this season.
Nicholls was speaking after his side were pegged back by a late goal in the draw with Brighton and Hove Albion Ladies on Sunday. Kim Walton volleyed in her first goal of the season to put the Sky Blues ahead, only for Lilly Agg to equalise inside the final ten minutes. However, the point was tainted by a first-half injury to forward Maz Gauntlett.
“It was a tough game,” admitted Nicholls. “We had plenty more possession than them, but failed to put any chances away.
“What the ladies know is that we have to finish games off. However you could see how much of a team we are when we did score, coming over to celebrate with Maz, so the unity is there, but we just need to stick together through the whole game.”
Although the Sky Blues still don’t know the extent of Gauntlett’s injury, it is a bitter blow for the forward who returned towards the latter part of last season, having spent 19 months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.
Gauntlett was stretchered off against Reading in a FA Women's Premier League tie in October 2011, but returned in sensational style in May, netting a penalty in the shootout to help Coventry retain the Birmingham FA County Cup against Sporting Club Albion.
Nicholls acknowledged that the injury killed their momentum going forward, but made no such excuses for the two dropped points.
“Maz’s injury definitely knocked us off our stride, our thoughts are with her and hopefully it's not as bad as first feared.
“But it (the equaliser) comes down to concentration. Maybe that thought is in their heads from last year, or maybe we thought the game was won?”
Coventry return to the Ricoh Arena for the second time this season, when they host Cardiff City on Sunday. The Sky Blues will be hoping to replicate their performances against the Bluebirds last season, having won the league ties 2-1 and 2-0 respectively.
The match takes place at the Ricoh Arena and will kick off at 2pm. Tickets are priced at £5.50 for adults and £3.30 for under 16s. Tickets can be purchased from www.theticketfactory.com.